Pashinyan to representatives of the Armenian community of Lebanon: I can hardly present a solution without clarifying the status of Artsakh

ArmInfo."It is important for us to tackle all the problems that entangled the relations between Armenia and Diaspora. Undoubtedly, all Armenians should participate
in the state-building process in the homeland, but we need to
consolidate at a higher institutional level.

Diaspora and Armenia
today are united as a result of the positive atmosphere formed after
the revolution, which needs to be crystallized and materialized."
According to the press service of Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan
answered a number of questions from representatives of the Armenian
community of Lebanon, concerning the development of Armenia,
Armenia-Diaspora relations, sectoral reforms, priorities of economic
development of Armenia, repatriation, cooperation between the State
and the Church, etc.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Acting Prime
Minister said: "During my contacts with international community
representatives, I am often asked whether Armenia is ready for a
compromise. I usually give the following answer: "Is Azerbaijan ready
for a compromise?" I do not know who and where decided that Armenia
should be the first to answer this question. Armenia is not going to
be the first to answer this question. At least, the answer must be
synchronous. Is Azerbaijan ready for a compromise? This is the
question. I said repeatedly that we would be adequate in any
situation; both Armenia and the Armenian government should never lose
the sense of adequacy. As for the framework for the settlement of the
conflict, I can hardly present a solution without clarifying the
status of Artsakh. This is a fact that we emphasize in our
statements: Artsakh's security and status are the cornerstone for
resolving the conflict."

Presenting his vision of Armenia-Diaspora relations, Nikol Pashinyan
noted: "It is important for us to tackle all the problems that
entangled the relations between Armenia and Diaspora. Undoubtedly,
all Armenians should participate in the state-building process in the
homeland, but we need to consolidate at a higher institutional level.
Diaspora and Armenia today are united as a result of the positive
atmosphere formed after the revolution, which needs to be
crystallized and materialized."

The Acting Prime Minister next touched upon the activities of
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. He urged those present to trust the
Fund's activities and help enhance its transparency and cost-
efficiency. "Transparency in spending is very important. Trust is
very important, and I hope that the Armenia-Diaspora relations will
be based primarily on mutual confidence," he stressed. Referring to
the prospects for developing democracy in Armenia, the Acting Prime
Minister noted, "There is no alternative to democracy, and I rule out
any vote rigging during our tenure. The press in Armenia has never
been so free as today, economic and political activities, the
possibility of expression in Armenia have never been so free as now.
Today, the government of Armenia enjoys the people's support, and
this is unprecedented in the history of the Third Republic, and if
there is any dominance, this is the dominance of the people. " Nikol
Pashinyan expressed confidence that Armenia will continue to move
forward along the path of democracy confidently and consistently.
Nikol Pashinyan next presented his vision of Armenia's economic
development, noting that the economy is currently anchored in mining
industry, agriculture and gambling: this structure should be changed,
and the government has set a goal to transform Armenia from an
agrarian country into a technological one. "We look forward to
investment in information and high technology. In general, Armenia
has to be am industrial country: there is great untapped potential in
diamond industry, jewelry, light industry, tourism, and
technology-extensive agriculture, and all this fits into our concept
of an ecological, green Armenia," the Acting Prime Minister stressed,
highlighting the participation of Diaspora-based specialists in the
development and restructuring of the economy. He also gave details on
improving the investment climate and reforming tax regulations.
Questions were asked about the national agenda, including on the
settlement of the Artsakh conflict. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the
national agenda should be discussed in a single format, involving
different layers of the Armenian people.

The Acting Prime Minister noted that in our reality there is a
strange perception, which is sometimes expressed in the press and the
statements of some politicians. "Someone may think that there can be
a government in Armenia to deal with the problem of Artsakh in
secret. It has been discussed constantly over the past twenty years.
How can any authority - even the worst government with bad intentions
- secretly solve the Karabakh issue? I propose to abandon this
discourse altogether. Once I said, and I keep saying this during
negotiations, that if there is any option for resolving the conflict,
and I myself am convinced that this is a good option, then I will
introduce it to our people in Armenia and the Diaspora, and the
people will decide whether they want it or not. I suggest giving up
the presumption of conspiracy in the context of the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict just because this issue cannot be solved in secret.

I am talking about Armenia and the Diaspora, but the most important
and decisive factor is the position of Artsakh's government and the
people of Artsakh. Should Armenia and the Diaspora happen to approve
an option, while the people of Artsakh might be reluctant, then we
will state that it is a bad option. The people of Artsakh should have
a decisive say in this matter. This does not imply at all that we
reject the idea of negotiations, but we say that this is a national
problem, and we must solve it together. I rule out that any authority
- even the one with the strongest popular support - could solve this
problem in a roundabout way. Otherwise they will lose the public's
trust in a minute. This is obvious, and we must make it clear once
and for all," Nikol Pashinyan concluded.